HYDE PARK— Sometimes the best way to openly discuss a polarizing topic such as dating and relationships is to get everyone's feelings out on the table.
A South Side-based speaking series believes that is the only course of action.
Tequila Tales, an unscripted speaking series about love and relationships, is celebrating its third anniversary Wednesday at The Promontory in Hyde Park.
Tequila Tales had its first show on Valentine's Day 2013. It is the rebranding an original speaking series created in 2011 called "Wine & Love."
Tickets are $10 for general admission and $80 for a reserved table of four.
"Tequila Tales" engages the entire audience, making them a part of the show. Past topics were dubbed “Cuffing Season,” “Too Deep in the Friend Zone” and “She Called The Cops."
Due to its popularity, "Tequila Tales" will take its brand to other cities such as Washington, Los Angeles, New York, Atlanta and Houston.
"Tequila Tales" was created by Isaac Paul and Kacey Smith.
"I think the popularity of the show hinges on its ability to be many different things to many people. For some, it's incredibly entertaining; for others it's very enlightening," Paul said. "Having that ability to peer into the candid thoughts of others is fascinating. I also think that the show gives people a voice in a way that is empowering."
During the show, Paul's point of view is dubbed "The Devil's Advocate." If he sees that the conversation is going toward a certain way, he challenges the narrative in order to keep the conversation lively.
"The discussion is moderated to keep people honest and authentic; so while humor plays an important role in maintaining the tone, our willingness to challenge people's intellect is what keeps the audience intrigued," Paul said. "We also go out of our way to create the perfect atmosphere that turns the entire show into an experience."
Businessman Jason Johnson, 35, has attended "Tequila Tales" on several occasions. He sees the authenticity Paul tries to maintain.
"Previous relationship events I went to weren't as interactive as 'Tequila Tales.' At other events, the 'panel' is the expert. However at Tequila Tales [the audience] are the experts," Johnson said. "And this adds to the richness of the experience."
Johnson also believes that "Tequila Tales" has organically created something often seen at dinner parties.
"What I love about 'Tequila Tales' is the fact that they have found a way recreate the experience of an intimate group of men and women, drinking and talking about relations between the two genders," Johnson said. "I think we have all been to a get-together where this has happened, and they've been able to put that in a bottle and create an amazing experience."
"Tequila Tales" is also has a strong social media following, with 1,600-plus Twitter followers and more than 3,100 likes on Facebook.
The speaking series also posts videos to their YouTube page in order the push the envelope even more:
South Loop resident Khalilah Starks, who has attended "Tequila Tales" five times, said the talking points are relatable.
"The subject matter is always very interesting. The topics really get the crowd engaged immediately, resulting in some very interesting discussions," Starks said. "People obviously have diverse experiences with regards to love and relationships and are at different points on the relationship spectrum (i.e. single, married, divorced, it's complicated, etc). The topics are very relatable no matter where you tend to land on that spectrum."
For more information on tickets, visit ticketweb.com.
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